{{short description|Lebanese-American doctor}} {{Infobox person | name = Israa Seblani | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1991 | birth_place = Baalbek, Baalbek-Hermel<br> Lebanon | alma_mater = Beirut Arab University | occupation = Doctor | years_active = | spouse = Ahmad Sbeih (m. 2020) | children = }} '''Israa Al Seblani''' (born 1991) is a Lebanese-American physician and endocrinologist. She is a survivor of the 2020 Beirut explosion that occurred on 4 August 2020. Later that month, a video went viral of Seblani having her bridal portraits taken when the explosion occurred.
== Biography == Seblani interned at Hammoud Hospital University Medical Center in Sidon.<ref name= deadline>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/25922/video_troy_doctor_survives_beirut_blast_as_she_poses_in_wedding_gown|title=Video: Troy doctor survives Beirut blast as she poses in wedding gown|website=deadlinedetroit.com}}</ref>
In 2013, she immigrated to the United States, moving to Michigan City, Indiana then moved to Troy, Michigan to complete a residency in endocrinology at a hospital in Detroit.<ref name= times>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/06/world/middleeast/beirut-explosion-bride-video.html|title='Now You Are Going to Die': Beirut Bride Recounts Moment of Blast|first=Megan|last=Specia|date=Aug 6, 2020|work=The New York Times}}</ref>
Seblani met Ahmad Sbeih, a businessman who owns two clothing stores, in November 2016 at a Starbucks in Beirut, while she was visiting family.<ref name= union/> She and her husband had been waiting three years to get married, due to protests in Lebanon, the COVID-19 pandemic, and since her husband had been unable to obtain an immigrant visa to leave Lebanon and come to the United States.<ref name= arab/> They had originally wanted to get married in the United States, but chose to have the wedding in Lebanon due to difficulty obtaining a visa for Sbeih.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wlox.com/2020/08/06/bride-beirut-wedding-photo-shoot-speaks-about-explosion/|title=Bride in Beirut wedding photo shoot speaks about explosion|website=wlox.com|access-date=2020-11-21|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012104244/https://www.wlox.com/2020/08/06/bride-beirut-wedding-photo-shoot-speaks-about-explosion/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Seblani has been pleading with federal government officials in the United States to speed up her husband's visa.<ref name= arab/> She returned to Lebanon in July 2020 for her wedding.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wxyz.com/news/bride-in-viral-beirut-blast-video-is-a-doctor-from-troy-now-struggling-to-return-home|title=Bride in viral Beirut blast video is a Doctor from Troy now struggling to return home|date=Aug 6, 2020|publisher=WXYZ}}</ref>
On 4 August 2020, Seblani was posing for bridal portraits outside of the Le Grey Hotel in Saifi Village before her wedding.<ref name= union>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unionleader.com/news/human_interest/two-couples-wedding-photos-captured-beiruts-devastation-each-brides-wondered-if-the-other-survived/article_5e740036-c33b-5343-aafc-5f684cc30510.html|title=Two couples' wedding photos captured Beirut's devastation. Each brides wondered if the other survived.|first1=Linah|last1=Mohammad|first2=Siobhán|last2=O'Grady|website=UnionLeader.com|date=15 August 2020 }}</ref><ref name= guardian>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2020/aug/05/footage-shows-moment-beirut-explosion-hits-as-bride-poses-for-photographs-video|title=Footage shows moment Beirut explosion hits as bride poses for photographs – video|date=Aug 5, 2020|work=The Guardian}}</ref> During the photoshoot an explosion occurred at the Port of Beirut, less than a mile away from where Seblani was standing.<ref name= union/><ref name= guardian/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/bride-recalls-moment-beirut-blast-rocked-her-wedding-shoot-im-losing-my-life/|title=Bride recalls moment Beirut blast rocked her wedding shoot: 'I'm losing my life'|website=The Times of Israel}}</ref> The explosion, caused by more than 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, killed at least 145 people and left over 5,000 people injured.<ref name="cbc">{{cite news |title=Beirut bride seen in viral video says she thought she was 'about to die' {{!}} CBC Radio |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-friday-edition-1.5678021/beirut-bride-seen-in-viral-video-says-she-thought-she-was-about-to-die-1.5678023 |accessdate=21 November 2020 |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=7 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/weddings/beirut-bride-israa-seblani-reveals-devastation-of-blast-which-rocked-lebanese-capital-ng-b881631770z|title=Beirut bride caught in explosion|date=Aug 6, 2020|website=PerthNow}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/05/middleeast/beirut-explosion-couple-wedding-shoot-trnd/index.html|title=One moment, they were filming the bride in her wedding dress. Then came the explosion|first1=Harmeet|last1=Kaur|first2=Paul P.|last2=Murphy|date=6 August 2020 |publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalvillagespace.com/bride-isra-seblani-recalls-horrific-scenes-of-beirut-explosions-during-photo-shoot/|title=Bride Isra Seblani recalls horrific scenes of Beirut explosions during photo shoot|date=Aug 8, 2020|website=Global Village Space}}</ref> Her videographer, Mahmoud Nakib, captured the detonation taking place on camera.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53676282|title=Beirut explosion: 'We don't have dreams any more'|date=Aug 7, 2020|publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref name= times/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/08/06/beirut-who-is-dr-israa-seblani-bride-was-mid-wedding-when-explosion-went-off/|title=Beirut: Who is Dr Israa Seblani? Bride was mid-wedding when explosion went off|first=Bryony|last=Jewell|date=Aug 6, 2020|website=HITC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wthr.com/article/news/nation-world/video-shows-beirut-explosion-during-brides-photoshoot/507-88487e07-e848-4e42-b809-aa87e93e6c52|title=Bride 'happy to be alive' after wedding video captures Beirut explosion|website=wthr.com|date=5 August 2020 }}</ref> Her fiancé, Ahmad Sbeih, had stepped away from the photoshoot to grab waters for her and the photographer.<ref name= arab>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabamericannews.com/2020/08/08/after-going-viral-the-bride-from-beirut-tells-her-story/|title=After going viral, the bride from Beirut tells her story|date=Aug 8, 2020}}</ref> Immediately after the blast, Sbeih ran to retrieve Seblani, taking shelter in a nearby restaurant.<ref name= arab/> The couple sustained no physical injuries from the explosion.<ref name= arab/> After calling her family, Seblani ran out to provide medical care to other victims of the blast.<ref name= arab/><ref name= reuters>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-security-blast-bride-idUSKCN2512SP|title=Lebanese bride happy to be alive after blast cuts short wedding video|first1=Yara Abi|last1=Nader|first2=Alaa|last2=Kanaan|date=Aug 5, 2020|work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insideedition.com/beirut-explosion-interrupts-brides-photoshoot-and-leaves-4-day-old-baby-fighting-for-her-life-61106|title=Beirut Explosion Interrupts Bride's Photoshoot and Leaves 4-Day-Old Baby Fighting For Her Life|date=Aug 6, 2020|website=Inside Edition}}</ref> They were married in a ceremony after the explosion.<ref name="cbc"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/beirut-explosion-bride-happy-be-alive-after-blast-cuts-short-n1235987|title=Lebanese bride posing in wedding video escapes deadly blast|date=6 August 2020 |publisher=NBC News}}</ref>
The video of Seblani's photography session during which the explosion occurred became a viral video on the internet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/viral-video-of-bride-during-bierut-explosion-is-detroit-medical-student.html|title=Viral video of bride during Beirut explosion is Detroit medical student|date=Aug 6, 2020|website=mlive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/world/mid-east/deadly-beirut-blast-sweeps-away-lebanese-bride-posing-for-wedding-day|title=Deadly Beirut blast sweeps away Lebanese bride posing for wedding day|date=Aug 5, 2020|website=Daily Sabah}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/a-lab-coat-is-white-my-wedding-dress-is-white-the-woman-from-a-viral-video-of-a-bridal-shoot-interrupted-by-the-beirut-explosion-was-a-doctor-who-rushed-to-tend-to-wounded-victims-still-in-her-wedding-dress/ar-BB17TPBc|title='A lab coat is white, my wedding dress is white:' The woman from a viral video of a bridal shoot interrupted by the Beirut explosion was a doctor who rushed to tend to wounded victims still in her wedding dress|publisher=MSN}}</ref>
Seblani has stated that she loves Lebanon, but feels that after the explosion, living there is not an option due to safety concerns.<ref name= reuters/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/am-i-going-to-die-lebanese-brides-wedding-video-captures-beirut-explosion/article32282286.ece|title='Am I going to die?': Lebanese bride's wedding video captures Beirut explosion|date=Aug 6, 2020|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref><ref name= cbc/> She returned to the United States in September 2020.<ref name= fox>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/troy-doctor-who-survived-beirut-blast-in-wedding-dress-returns-home-awaits-husband|title=Troy doctor who survived Beirut blast in wedding dress returns home, awaits husband|date=Sep 18, 2020|website=FOX 2 Detroit}}</ref> After the explosion, Seblani and her husband have received support in the immigration process from U.S. Senator Gary Peters and U.S. Congresswoman Haley Stevens.<ref name= fox/>
She is a dual citizen of the United States and Lebanon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abc7news.com/6359134/|title='Am I going to die?': Beirut bride recounts horrific moment explosion hit|first=Eileen|last=Frere|date=Aug 7, 2020|website=ABC7 San Francisco}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/beiruts-fleeing-bride-talks-to-dw/av-54470727|title=Beirut's 'fleeing bride' talks to DW | 06.08.2020|publisher=Deutsche Welle}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Seblani, Israa}} Category:Living people Category:1991 births Category:2020 Beirut explosion Category:American endocrinologists Category:Beirut Arab University alumni Category:Lebanese emigrants to the United States Category:Lebanese endocrinologists Category:People from Baalbek Category:Viral videos Category:American women endocrinologists